CLEVELAND, Ohio – While Browns General Manager Ray Farmer pulled the trigger on one of the franchise’s most audacious draft-day moves, the man who helped supply the ammo was not around to revel in the excitement.

The two picks, Nos. 26 and 83, used to trade up for Johnny Manziel were acquired in deals orchestrated by former CEO Joe Banner – one that came as part of the Trent Richardson blockbuster, the other in the 2013 draft-day swap with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It also was Banner who chose to hire Farmer a year ago as an assistant GM after filling the general manager’s position with Michael Lombardi. “An up-and-coming star in this league,” is how Banner once described Farmer.

On Thursday night, the longtime NFL team executive saw a future he helped create pass before his eyes, knowing he’d not be part it. We can only imagine the emotions and thoughts churning inside Banner today.

He made some mistakes during his short reign in Berea – the hiring of Lombardi chief among them – and contributed to the dysfunction he was charged with eliminating. Owner Jimmy Haslam, weary of the growing discord between Banner and Lombardi during a tumultuous 25-day coaching search producing Mike Pettine, jettisoned them both on Feb. 11.

Lombardi landed in New England with his buddy Bill Belichick as an assistant to the coaching staff. Banner has not taken another job although it's believed he's had chances to work with other teams.

From his days with Andy Reid in Philadelphia, Banner built a reputation as a numbers guy and shrewd businessman. He got a stadium built in Philadelphia and struck a deal with the city to have one renovated in Cleveland. He yearned for the opportunity to prove he was equally adept at running the football-operations side. Haslam gave him that chance in 2012 and Banner delivered mixed results at best.

Few impact players came from the 2013 free-agency and draft hauls. The Davone Bess trade proved a disaster. The Browns management team did not give their hand-picked coach Rob Chudzinski enough help through the course of last season and surprised many with his quick ouster.

But Banner positioned the Browns well for Thursday night in part because he wasn’t risk averse. He traded with the rival Steelers, surrendering a 2013 fourth rounder for a 2014 third rounder that served as the sweetner Farmer used to trade up with the Eagles for Manziel.

If not for the Richardson shocker, the Browns likely would have had to take Manziel at No. 4, a pick Farmer masterfully spun into a 2015 first-rounder in a trade-back with the Buffalo Bills. Banner had to take some pride in watching his “up-and-coming star” execute three first-round deals and address a need at cornerback by drafting Justin Gilbert at No. 8.

All this wheeling and dealing and the Browns managed to retain their No. 35 pick, which they could use on a receiver Friday night.

We don’t know if the great Manziel experiment will work or become the Browns’ latest draft-day fumble. But on Thursday night, the club’s general manager helped make the franchise relevant again with an assist from the former CEO who hired him.

Joe Banner deserves blame for what happened here a season ago. He also deserves a little credit for what's happening now.

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